Shelving support unit

ABSTRACT

A shelving system for use in residential and industrial settings. The system is comprised of multiple shelving support units, with said shelving support units each comprising multiple brackets; said brackets comprising attachment means for attachment to a vertical support member; multiple extensions adjacent to said brackets; said extensions being positioned at a ninety degree or approximately ninety degree angle from said brackets; said extensions further comprising multiple aperture plates; and an angled bracing portion joining said extensions.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a shelving system. More particularly,the present invention relates to a wall-mounted shelving support unit.Two or more shelving support units are assembled to form a shelvingsystem. The system may be used in homes, businesses, and/or industrialsettings.

2. Summary of Invention

Wall mounted shelving systems are known in the art and allow users tostore items without using any floor space. Such systems are ideal forareas in which square footage is limited or in which maximum use ofsquare footage is desired. Prior art wall mounted systems typicallycomprise elongated braces positioned in a vertical direction against avertical support member such as a wall. Rectangular panels of rigidmaterial are used to form shelf platforms and typically possess a pairof trunnions or other means for attachment to the elongated braces. Theelongated braces, in turn, comprise means to accommodate the trunnionsto support said shelf platforms.

A shortcoming of prior art, wall mounted shelving systems is that suchsystems are often inflexible. Widths of shelf platforms from suchsystems tend to be fixed. Prior art shelf platforms are typicallypre-cut rectangular panels constructed from wood, plastic, metal, orparticleboard. Users cannot conveniently extend or shorten the length ofsuch platforms. This prevents the user from easily adjusting the span ofsuch shelving systems. Storage needs of a user tend to change over timeand prior art systems do not allow users to easily adapt systems toaccommodate changing needs.

To address this shortcoming users have often been forced to installcustom built or custom designed shelving systems. Such systems generallyrequire the skills of a carpenter to provide pieces according tospecified dimensions. This alternative is expensive, requiringadditional costs in materials, parts, and labor. For users occupying aspace on a short-term basis, this level of investment can beprohibitive.

An additional shortcoming in the prior art is that shelving platformscomprising trunnion-based support systems tend to have limitedload-bearing capacity. As described above, trunnion-based systemscomprise vertical braces that are attached to a vertical wall member.The vertical braces contain slots that allow for the insertion of a pairof trunnions from a shelf platform to be inserted, and held in place. Anassembled trunnion-based system results in a cantilevered structure,with the shelf platform forming a cantilever. Because cantileveredstructures are inherently unstable, trunnion based systems are not idealfor heavy loads. Industrial facilities typically require shelvingsystems capable of carrying large and heavy loads. As a result,industrial facilities often have to construct expensive, custom builtsystems, capable of holding heavy loads.

The present invention addresses the above shortcomings by teaching aflexible shelving system in which the horizontal span of the system canbe easily adjusted for the user's particular purposes. The inventionincorporates prefabricated steel pipes, or PVC piping to form a shelfplatform component of the system. Such materials are widely available tothe general public in building material stores and can be easily cut tothe user's specifications. Such materials are also relativelyinexpensive. Thus the present invention teaches a low cost system forconstructing a sturdy, customized shelving system.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a shelving support unit.

FIG. 1A shows a close up view of a locking tab feature.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a shelving support unit assembly.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the shelving support unit assemblywith multiple accessory units.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelving support unit 1. In thepreferred embodiment, the present invention is constructed as a singlesteel unit. The unit may be constructed from less expensive alloyshowever, if the needs of the user do not require the load bearingcapacity of steel. The unit may be covered with a protective enamel ifused in a corrosive environment, such as outdoors or near the ocean.When observed against a vertical support member 3, the invention mayhave an arc-like appearance.

The unit may be comprised of multiple brackets 2, allowing forattachment to a vertical support member 3, such as a wall. The bracketsform a plane that is parallel to the vertical support member to which itis attached. The brackets comprise openings 4, allowing attachment ofthe brackets to the vertical support member via attachment means, suchas bolts, lag screws, or other concrete anchor or fastening systems,which other systems are known to those skilled in the art.

Adjacent to the brackets are multiple extensions 5 projectingperpendicularly, or roughly perpendicular from the brackets. Theextensions project at differing lengths from one another, with a firstextension 20 being larger than a second extension 30. Said firstextension is positioned parallel to said second extension. Said firstextension may lie either directly above the second extension or directlybelow the second extension depending on which direction the shelvingsupport unit is attached against the vertical support member.

Included within the extensions are multiple aperture panels 6. Thepanels are provided for creating a shelf platform component of thesystem. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, theaperture panels are configured with apertures having a diameter suitablefor insertion of cylindrical pipe components available at buildingsupply stores. In FIG. 1A, means to secure a cylindrical pipe 10 withinthe shelving support unit is shown. A Locking tab 14 projectsperpendicular from the aperture panels. The locking tab prevents thecylindrical pipe 10 from moving horizontally and allows for a user tosecure the cylindrical pipe to the shelving support unit with screws orother securing means once inserted in the apertures.

FIG. 2 shows an assembly of the present invention. A fully assembledsystem requires multiple shelving support units 1 as described above.Each shelving support unit comprising the system should be positioned atan equal height from the another. A span 8 separates two shelvingsupport units. The span between any two units will be spaced accordingto the projected load the user intends to have supported on the shelvingsystem. Heavier loads will require that the span between the shelvingsupport units be smaller.

Another factor in the stability of the system is the material from whichthe vertical support member 3 is constructed. The shelving support unitsmay be attached to a variety of surfaces including cement, brick, wood,plaster, and drywall. The more rigid the material, the less need foraccessory devices such as butterfly bolts or anchors for use with theattachment means. Bolts, lag screws, nails or other concrete anchor orfastening systems are examples of suitable attachment means for securingthe shelving support unit to the vertical support member.

A shelf platform 9 is comprised of cylindrical pipes 10, which arewidely available in building supply and home improvement stores. Thepipes are cut a length that is larger than the span 8 between twoshelving support units. The pipes are inserted in the apertures locatedin the multiple aperture panels 6. Because the first extension may havemore apertures than the second extension, more pipes may be inserted inthe first extension than the second extension. By adding additionalpipes, a wider shelf platform 9 may be created. In the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the assembly will comprise an uppershelf platform 12 and lower shelf platform 13.

The multiple aperture panels may provide gaps 11 of various lengthsbetween the apertures. Storage of larger items will allow for largergaps 11 and the insertion of multiple pipes; while storage of smallerobjects will require smaller gaps so that said items do not fall throughthe gaps. Shelf platform widths may vary in size depending on the needsof the user. Larger shelf platforms may require larger extension sizesand additional apertures, while smaller shelf platforms may requiresmaller extension sizes and fewer apertures. The user may modify thenumber of pipes that are inserted in said aperture panels to accommodatethe user's intended use of the system. For example, a user may insertjust one pipe in the aperture panels to suspend tires from said pipe.

Additional shelving support units may be placed at an equal height fromthe first two, to create a shelving system comprised of more than twoshelving support units. Pipes may be cut according to the final spanbetween a first shelving support unit and final shelving support unit.

Manufacture of the present invention is simple. Steel tubes may be bentusing methods known in the art to form the multiple extensions 20, 30and angled bracing portion 7, as shown in FIG. 1. Steel plates may bewelded to the tubes to provide the brackets 2 and multiple aperturepanels 6 provided on the extensions. One inch galvanized steel pipes maybe used to form the shelf platform structure.

For a less industrial appearance, injection molded plastic may be usedfor the extensions and angled bracing portion. Instead of steel pipes,electrical metallic tubing, wood dowels, copper piping, or PVC pipingmay be used for the shelf platform. This list is not exhaustive howeverand numerous prefabricated materials are suitable for use.

FIG. 3 shows an accessory unit 15 of the present invention. Theaccessory unit allows the user to span the shelving support units 1across areas in which an obstruction 16, such as an electrical panel,steel frame, or concrete panel, may exist. The accessory unit may beplaced at the same height as the first extension 20 or second extension30 depending on the location of the obstruction 16. Accessory units 15may be positioned on opposite sides of the obstruction 16 to allow forthe placement of cylindrical pipes on either side of the obstruction.The accessory units may be attached to a vertical support member throughthe same means from which the shelving support units are attached to avertical support member. The accessory units comprise apertures in whichpipes extending from the shelving support unit may be inserted.Depending on the size of the obstruction, all or only some of theapertures provided on the accessory unit may hold a pipe.

An alternative embodiment may comprise all of the elements as describedabove, excluding the second extension. The alternative embodimentresults in just one shelf platform being formed when assembled with anidentical shelving support unit. This embodiment may be preferred whenless storage is needed.

The user is afforded great flexibility using the present inventionbecause the shelf platform can be easily and inexpensively modified whendesired. Steel and plastic piping are readily available and inexpensivewhen compared to custom cut pieces of wood or plastic panels. Expandingor reducing the span of the shelf platform of the present invention onlyrequires a user to go to his local home improvement store to purchasethe piping materials.

In summary, the present invention is a novel, inventive shelving systemthat addresses many of the shortcomings in the art. With respect to theabove description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function, manner and use are deemedreadily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by thepresent invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, while still falling within the scope ofthe invention.

1. A shelving system comprised of: multiple shelving support units, withsaid shelving support units each comprising: multiple brackets; saidbrackets comprising attachment means for attachment to a verticalsupport member; multiple extensions adjacent to each bracket; saidextensions being positioned at a ninety-degree or approximatelyninety-degree angle from said brackets; said extensions furthercomprising multiple aperture plates; and an angled bracing portionjoining said extensions.
 2. The shelving support unit as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the brackets, extensions, multiple aperture plates, andangled bracing portion comprise a single unit.
 3. The shelving supportunit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said multiple aperture platescomprise openings having a diameter larger than one inch.
 4. Multipleshelving support units as claimed in claim 1 wherein one inch galvanizedsteel pipes are inserted in said multiple aperture plates to form ashelf platform.
 5. Multiple shelving support units as claimed in claim 1wherein one inch PVC pipes are inserted in said multiple aperture platesto form a shelf platform.
 6. The shelving system as claimed in claim 1further comprising accessory units for use in spans includingobstructions.
 7. The shelving support units as claimed in claim 1wherein said multiple aperture plates further comprise locking tabs. 8.A shelving system comprised of: multiple shelving support units, witheach shelving support unit comprising: multiple brackets; said bracketscomprising attachment means for attachment to a vertical support member;a single extension positioned against a first bracket, said extensionbeing positioned at a ninety-degree or approximately ninety-degree anglefrom said first bracket; said extension further comprising multipleaperture plates; and an angled bracing portion adjacent to saidextension joining said extension to a second bracket.
 9. The shelvingsystem of claim 8 further comprising accessory units for use in spansincluding obstructions.
 10. The shelving support units as claimed inclaim 8 wherein said multiple aperture plates further comprise lockingtabs.